Flow distributor for die tooling of pipe mold equipment with remote extruder

Abstract

Equipment ( 1 ) used in the molding or plastic pipe includes die tooling ( 3 ) provided with a plastic flow distributor ( 25 ) at the upper end of the die tooling. The plastic flow distributor has adjustable flow to provide an even distribution of plastic from an extruder into at least one die passage ( 9 ) within the die tooling.

1. Equipment used in the molding of plastic pipe, said equipment comprising a plastic supply and plastic feed that provide molten plastic for making the pipe to a flow distributor connected to an upstream end of die tooling, said plastic supply being located remotely of the die tooling, said die tooling having a first internal elongate die passage of a ring shaped cross section to carry the molten plastic to a downstream molding region where the pipe is shaped, the die passage having a ring shaped mouth covered by the flow distributor; the flow distributor having a first plastic flow path having an inlet connected to said plastic feed and at least two channels connected to said inlet with each channel having an outlet port feeding molten plastic to said ring shaped mouth of said first internal die passage with said outlets ports being distributed about said ring shaped mouth; said equipment further including a first adjustment means associated with said at least two channels to manually vary the distribution of molten plastic from the plastic supply through the outlet ports positioned around the ring shaped month of the first internal die passage to produce an even distribution of the molten plastic from the elongate die passage at the downstream molding region; and
 wherein said first adjustment means being positioned upstream of and spaced from said outlet ports. 
 
   
   
     2. Equipment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said die tooling includes a second elongate die passage having a ring shaped month which is outwardly around the mouth of the first die passage and which is also covered by the flow distributor, the flow distributor having a second plastic flow path having an inlet connected to said plastic supply to receive molten plastic and at least two channels connected to said inlet with each channel having an outlet port feeding molten plastic to said ring shaped mouth of said second elongate die passage with said outlet port being distributed about said ring shaped mouth of said second elongate die passage; said equipment further including a second adjustment means associated with said at least two channels of said second plastic flow path to manually vary the distribution of molten plastic from the plastic supply through said outlet port positioned around the mouth of the second die passage to produce an even distribution of the molten plastic from the second die passage at the downstream molding region. 
   
   
     3. Equipment as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said flow distributor comprises a plate secured to the upstream end of said die tooling, said plate including a first plate portion which feeds through the first plastic flow path to the mouth of the first die passage and a second plate portion which feeds second plastic flow path to the mouth of said second die passage, said first and second adjustment means being adjustable independently of one another. 
   
   
     4. Equipment as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said plastic supply comprise a single extruder and wherein said plastic feed comprises a single conduit from said extruder to first and second supply branches of said plastic supply, said first supply branch feeding to the first plastic flow path of the flow distributor around the mouth of the first die passage, the second supply branch feeding to the second plastic flow path of the flow distributor around the mouth of the second die passage. 
   
   
     5. Equipment as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said plastic supply comprises first and second extruders, said plastic feed comprising a first conduit from said first extruder to the first plastic flow path of said flow distributor around the mouth of said first die passage and a second conduit from said second extruder to the second plastic flow path of said flow distributor around the mouth of said second die passage. 
   
   
     6. Equipment as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said plastic supply comprises first and second extruders, said plastic feed comprising a first conduit from said first extruder and a second conduit from said second extruder, a first supply branch feeding to the first plastic flow path of the flow distributor around the mouth of the first die passage, a second supply branch feeding to the second plastic flow path around the mouth of the second die passage, and a connecting branch between said first and second supply branches, both said first and said second conduits from said first and second extruders feeding to said connecting branch of said plastic feed and said plastic supply including flow adjustment means for selecting opening and closing said first and second conduits relative to said connecting branch. 
   
   
     7. Equipment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said at least two channels is at least four channels. 
   
   
     8. Equipment as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first adjustment means includes a manually adjustable valve associated with each channel. 
   
   
     9. Equipment as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said at least two channels is at least four channels. 
   
   
     10. Equipment as claimed in  claim 9  wherein each valve is adjustable at an exposed upstream face of said flow distributor. 
   
   
     11. Equipment as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said at least two channels of said first flow path is at least four channels and said at least two channels of said second flow path is at least four channels. 
   
   
     12. Equipment as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said first adjustment means and said second adjustment means each include a manually adjustable valve associated with each respective channel. 
   
   
     13. Equipment as claimed in  claim 12  wherein each valve is adjustable at an exposed upstream face of said flow distributor. 
   
   
     14. Equipment as claimed in  claim 13  wherein each valve is an adjustable threaded member movable to different positions partially blocking the respective channel. 
   
   
     15. Equipment as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said flow distributor is a plate that extends across said first internal die passage of said die tooling.